Duabi: Several years have passed since the commissioning of the first batch of female police cadets in Dubai.
Today, more than 1,500 women are working in Dubai Police, 93 of them in leadership positions.
The evolution has been three decades in the making and has transformed the concept of policing in the UAE, say officials. Emirati women, especially, are joining the police force after being qualified and prepared to carry out their tasks and duties.
Females joining Dubai police forces are given all chances, opportunities and logistical support to refine their performance.
The top-down police efforts for the inclusion of women in the police service was honoured recently by the United Nations Award for Public Services for 2012 in the fields of quality and public service.
“Police women have reached the highest ranks, includinglieutenant colonel, while some of them are of high qualifications with doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees and Higher Diploma and secondary school. All of them are specialized in scientific and criminal sciences,” said Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander in Chief of Dubai Police.
He said Emirati women are joining the police forces to boost the security and social progress of the country.
He said women working at Dubai Police are given full opportunity for advancement.
“We provide the necessary support for females working within police ranks, whether they are with militaryforces or civil employees,” he said.
Major General Taresh Eid Al Mansouri, director of the Human Resources Department at Dubai police, said the law of human resources at Dubai government has ensured the Emirati women’s full right to work and guarantees women equality with their male counterparts.
Al Mansouri said Dubai Police established a special section for women’s affairs within it’s organisational structure.
“The Women’s Affairs section considers all matters relating to working females, their needs, demands and it addresses their problems that hinder their work and to know their views and suggestions in order to find a balanced and attractive work environment for them,” he said.
“Police women have demonstrated efficiency and enthusiasm in performing tasks that were once restricted to men. I feel very proud when I see the Emirati women perform the same duties of men, as this helps reflect a positive image about capabilities of UAE women,” he added.
Captain Massoud Ibrahim, head of the female police unit at Dubai Police, which comes under the General Department of Organisations Protective Security and Emergency, said the infusion of a great number of women into Dubai Police is a strong addition.
“Emirati women have also proved their competence in the work of security at police despite the high level of danger accompanying this profession,” he said.Sergeant Iman Salem Mubarak, from General Department of Organisations Protective Security and Emergency Management and VIP protection, joined Dubai Police in 1992 and her job was to secure and protect the VIPs.
Mubarak said when she joined work it was dominated by men.
“My work is a unique experience, In every day work there is an adventure. I do an interesting and difficult task. I work on securing high profile female personalities, my duty is to ensure the high profile figures protection,” she said.
Mubarak said her work with VIPs need her also to behave in very nice manner and to follow protocols.
“My work with police over the past years was a key role in changing my life on a personal level, I became more confident and it improved my self esteem. I learned patience and skill in management and that increased my self-confidence which helped play a large role in obtaining my university degree in psychology,” she said.
Second Lt Maryiam Bilal Al Mussam said the first official division for her at police was working at the Office of Investigations of children in Al Rashidiya Police Station.
“My work at the office of investigation of children’s issues means Dubai Police have full trust in Emirati women to instigate criminal cases,” she said.
“I learned how to protect the privacy of the victim,” she said.
First Corporal Reem Amiri, the oldest employee in the programme to communicate with the victim and the Head of the Department to communicate with the victim in the Al Qusais police station, said she engaged in ,training programmes to learn how to communicate and helpvictims.
“I learned how to perform on humanitarian bases and I learned the great need of the victim for support,” she said.
Mariam Misbah said she joined work in Dubai Police Academy in 2002, as a translator.
Today she is head of conferences, translation and publishing in academy, pointing out that the encouragement of management helped female employees at Dubai police to have high ranks and positions.
“Female police are the pioneers. We are proud of this well-trained female police. They work hand-in-hand with their male counterparts,” said Major General Mohammad Eid Al Mansouri, Director of the General Department of Organisation Protective Security and Emergency of Dubai Police.
